As we reported here, the Jordanian government unexpectedly interfered with Americans’ ability to hear from heroic peace activist Iyad Burnat, head of Bil’in’s Popular Committee, about his village’s peaceful work against Israel’s illegal separation wall and his brave defense of human rights in Palestine.
Just now, Jill (Susannah) Baker, the coordinator of Burnat’s “Palestine American Lecture Tour: Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine,” tells us great news:
“I just talked to Iyad, and he has finished his interview with the Jordanian intelligence service and has a flight booked to arrive in Detroit tomorrow night. “
We in Ohio look forward to hearing Burnat discuss “Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine” at 7:00 PM Wednesday, November 28, 2012, in the Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park, Columbus. The flier by sponsors “Central Ohioans for Peace” and the “Progressive Peace Coalition’s Committee for Middle East Peace” invites us to:
“Join Iyad Burnat as he shares photos, videos, and stories of Bil’in, Palestine,’s resistance to the building of Israel’s separation wall, the subject of an award-winning documentary, 5 Broken Cameras….For more information, contact cmhammond@att.net.”
The caption for a picture of Burnat mourning his friend Bassem Abu-Rahmeh tells us, “Iyad became involved in resistance as a teenager. He was arrested by the military for the first time at 17 for throwing stones and imprisoned for two years. In this photo, he sits by the grave of a friend who was killed by a teargas canister during a nonviolent 2009 demonstration.”
The demonstration was peaceful, but the IDF was not, firing a high-velocity canister into Bassem Abu-Rahmeh’s chest.
Jill Baker wrote last weekend,
“I am deeply grateful for everyone’s efforts in this–and also deeply moved by the outpouring of support for Iyad. It is testimony to the love and respect he has earned worldwide.”
Iyad Burnat also offered thanks, in a comment to a post by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation about Jordan’s refusing to allow him to travel through Amman to the U.S.:
Dear Friends,
I want to thank all of you for your support, organizing and activism in response to the Jordanian officials blocking my travel to the United States.
I am hoping that together we will resolve this situation in a few days, and that I can then proceed with my American tour. In the meantime, please continue to spread the word and pressure the Jordanian embassies.
Again, I thank you for all your support, and for your hard work for Palestine and for peace and justice.
My love to you all,
Iyad
fantastic. i plan on hearing him speak when he’s in the bay area.